Scheme to Provide Financial Assistance for Translation of Scholarly Works

What is the translation assistance scheme of the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi?

Scheme to Provide Financial Assistance for Translation of Scholarly Works: known in Gujarati as the Prashisht Krutio na Anuvad mate Aarthik Sahay Yojana: is a publication grant run by the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous body of the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat, based at Gandhinagar.

The scheme's stated purpose, in rule 3 of the Akademi's published rules, is to increase cultural exchange between regions that speak different languages and to make translation a proper vehicle for the development of language and literature.

Scheme to Provide Financial Assistance for Translation of Scholarly Works covers translation in both directions:

• Classic works from other Indian languages and world languages into Gujarati, and
• Outstanding Gujarati works into one or more other languages.

Eligible genres named in the rules are novel, drama, story, poetry, one-act play, biography and character sketch, essay, criticism and research volumes.

Assistance can go either to an individual translator or to a recognised literary, research or educational institution that takes responsibility for the translation.

How much money does the scheme give?

The Akademi first fixes a notional printing cost per forme (a printer's sheet), by size and binding:

Against that calculation, the grant is the lower of:

• 75 per cent of the bill amount, or
• Rs 25,000 where the book runs from the contents page to page 112, and Rs 30,000 where it runs beyond 112 pages.

All categories of cost are treated as included in that figure. Page counting matters: only the pages of the main subject matter after the contents page are counted. Title pages, the book introduction, the author introduction and the contents page are not counted; the preface and main text pages are.

Who is eligible for the translation grant?

You can apply if:

• You are a translator, or a recognised literary, research or educational institution handling the translation.
• You have obtained written permission from the original author or institution for the work you intend to translate, and you attach that permission letter with the proposal.
• You accept that royalty payable to the original author or publisher is your own liability, not the Akademi's.
• You submit one manuscript only for the year across any single book-publication scheme.

You are not eligible, and cannot apply, if:

• You have already received assistance five times under any of the four book-publication schemes across the Akademi's affiliated Gujarati, Hindi, Sanskrit, Kachchhi, Urdu and Sindhi bodies. The rules bar such authors from submitting a manuscript.
• You cannot produce the original author's or publisher's permission.
• You are seeking a second grant for the same book from another source, or intend to transfer the grant to a private publisher.
• Your manuscript is submitted as loose pages rather than typed, bound and page-numbered.

Selection is on merit. The manuscript is sent to a referee, and only if the referee finds the work fit for publication is the grant sanctioned. The rules state that only works of high literary quality in the referee's judgement will be selected, and that the referee's and Akademi's decision is final.

How to apply for translation assistance

1. Obtain written permission from the original author, institution or publisher for the work you plan to translate.
2. Prepare the translation as a typed, book-bound, page-numbered manuscript. Loose sheets are not accepted.
3. Write your name, address and mobile number clearly on the front page of the manuscript.
4. Open gujaratsahityaacademy.com/user/yojana/yojana_list, read the "Prashisht Krutio na Anuvad" rules PDF, and fill the prescribed online form, declaring how many books have earlier received Akademi assistance and in which years.
5. Send two copies of the complete manuscript, together with the filled form, a copy of the original work and a statement of estimated costs, to the Mahamatra, Gujarat Sahitya Akademi, Gandhinagar — in person to the appropriate officer or by registered post, so it arrives by the closing date.
6. Wait for the referee's assessment. The Akademi informs the author by letter whether the grant is sanctioned or refused.
7. Once sanctioned, print 300 copies at your own cost within three months, then submit the original printing bills, vouchers and the Akademi sanction letter for verification and release of the grant.
8. Deliver 15 free copies of the published book to the Akademi office.

What is the last date to apply?

The Akademi's scheme list states that applications under schemes 2 to 7, which includes this translation scheme, close on 31 October 2026.

What conditions apply after the grant is approved?

• 300 copies of the approved book must be printed.
• 15 copies go free of cost to the Akademi office in Gandhinagar.
• The book must be published within three months of sanction, backed by a written undertaking from the author.
• Neither the title nor the title of the manuscript may be changed by the author after submission, and no correction or alteration may be made after approval without the Akademi's written permission.
• The reverse of the title page and the preface must both carry the acknowledgement that the book is published with financial assistance from the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi, Gandhinagar, along with the Akademi logo. The logo and Akademi name must not appear on the outer front or back cover, and no publishing house name or logo may be displayed there either.
• No advertisements may be carried in a book printed with this assistance.
• Spelling must follow the government-approved Sarth Gujarati Jodni Kosh.
• The grant cannot be transferred to a private publisher or institution, and assistance for the same book cannot be obtained from elsewhere.

Why translation grant applications get rejected

• Permission letter from the original author missing from the proposal.
• Loose or unbound manuscript, or missing page numbers.
• Two copies not submitted, or the original source work not enclosed.
• Five earlier grants already received across the six Akademis.
• Previous assistance not disclosed in the form. The rules place that responsibility squarely on the author.
• Referee finds the work below the required literary standard.
• More than one manuscript submitted in the same year under one scheme.

Rule 24 states that once a formal decision has been taken on eligibility or on the grant amount, the Akademi will not enter into any correspondence about it. Rule 25 reserves the power to decide procedure and policy to the Akademi itself.

Help and grievance contact

• Gujarat Sahitya Akademi email: gsagandhinagar@gmail.com
• Phone / WhatsApp: +91 76210 05656
• Scheme rules and application: gujaratsahityaacademy.com
• Parent department: Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat

There is no application fee. The applicant bears only the cost of preparing the manuscript, postage, and printing before the grant is reimbursed.